Casual Dining

Argument for minimum alcohol pricing is 'flawed' says trade association

28-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

The model used by the Government as its basis for introducing a minimum price for alcohol is 'fatally flawed' the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has said following the release of a report earlier this week. 

Proof Drinks introduces Swedish Pistonhead lager with 'rock'n'roll attitude' to UK

28-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Proof Drinks is introducing Swedish 'rock'n'roll attitude' lager Pistonhead to the UK on-trade market and is targeting venues which support live music.

Camra National Pub of the Year 2012: Finalists revealed

27-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has revealed the four pubs which have reached the 2012 final of its National Pub of the Year competition.

Food sales drive 2% growth for Mitchells and Butlers

27-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Sales across the Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) estate went up 2.1 per cent last year, a period during which the pub and restaurant operator initiated 'significant cultural change' by focusing on streamlining the business and investing heavily...

Pipers Crisps adds chorizo flavour to gourmet crisps range

27-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Pipers Crisps has added a chorizo flavour to its range of artisan crisps using a specially-created chorizo made in a farmer and butcher's on-site charcuterie in Kirkby Malham, Yorkshire.

ASK THE EXPERTS

How to sell more desserts

26-Nov-2012 By Sarah Frankland

Sarah Frankland, head patissier at William Curley and winner of the 2012 inaugural Mövenpick Gourmet Dessert Chef of the Year competition, shares her top tips on how to sell more desserts at your restaurant, pub or hotel.

Restaurants and pubs express caution as average spend per visit rises

26-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Hospitality operators have given a lukewarm welcome to the news that the average spend per visit to restaurants and pubs has risen by warning that the total number of visits is actually on the wane due to the rising cost of going out.

ChefTools introduces indoor charcoal BBQ Kamado Joe to UK

26-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

ChefTools, the exclusive UK distributor of the Pacojet, is now introducing the Kamado Joe indoor charcoal BBQ to the UK restaurant market for the first time.

Hospitality employers urged to bid for slice of £150m Employer Ownership Fund

23-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Hospitality skills organisation People 1st is urging industry employers across the country to make use of a new £150m Government fund which offers financial support to develop and deliver their own training solutions to grow businesses. 

Cloud computing 'revolutionary' for hotels claims Hospitality Technology EXPO manager

21-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Cloud computing has revolutionised the hotel sector and will remain integral to the industry's future success, according to Claudia Harris, event manager of new trade show Hospitality Technology EXPO. 

Former Tourism Minister and BHA back 'one in, two out' approach to regulation

21-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Former Toursim Minister John Penrose has weighed in on the debate surrounding regulations and red tape for the hospitality industry by calling on the Government to keep its newly-made promise to stick to a 'one in, two out' rule.

First Restaurant Group becomes first to join sustainable scheme Think Eat Drink

21-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

First Restaurant Group, owner of restaurants and pubs in London, including The Worlds End and Running Horse, has become the first hospitality company to sign up to Think Eat Drink's (TED) membership scheme in a bid to operate more sustainably. 

Rat race: Businesses urged to consider pest-control options ahead of potential poison ban

20-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Hospitality business owners are facing a potential rodent infestation crisis ‘similar to that of the Great Plague’ as a number of common rodenticides could be banned from use, reducing the number of effective pest-control methods available.

Supermarkets sweep away community pubs, claims Camra

20-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The Campaign for Real Ale is calling on the Government to introduce changes to planning laws in order to prevent pubs from being sold to supermarket chains and property developers; a problem the organisation says is leading to one pub a week becoming...

Enterprise Inns reveals intention to develop new food, sport or family pub concepts as profits fall

20-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Enterprise Inns has reported a fall in profits during the last year but said it was seeing improved performance trends across its estate as the operator looks to develop new pub concepts focusing on food, sport and the family.

Tri-Star introduces Nibble Box to takeaway packaging range

19-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Leading UK packaging supplier Tri-Star Packaging has introduced the Nibble Box to its refreshed range of solutions for caterers looking to enhance their takeaway or food-on-the-go offer.

IDEAS FROM YOUR PEERS

Desk deliveries and power lunches: How to boost your lunchtime trade

19-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The UK’s lunch market, already worth £14.9bn to the foodservice sector, looks set to occupy a growing share of overall sales in the next 12 months as consumers are looking for something quick, cheap and easy to eat. 

Heineken rebrands Scottish and Newcastle Pub Company as Star Pubs and Bars

19-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Heineken has renamed its leased pub operator, the Scottish & Newcastle Pub Company, Star Pubs & Bars and extended its range of agreements, increased the flexibility of its existing leases and added new initiatives for lessees including a food...

Olympics boosted UK tourism but came at a cost for hospitality businesses

16-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Tourism figures released this week indicate that Britain is well-placed to build on encouraging inbound Olympic visitors, but a post-Games review by foodservice consultancy Horizons shows that the event actually came at a big cost for hotels, restaurants...

Your Sushi launches professional training school to meet growing demand for sushi

16-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Sushi cookery school Your Sushi is now offering training courses to professional chefs and restaurant groups in response to growing demand for training following changes to immigration laws. 

Peter Avis: Career Profile

16-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Peter Avis’s job in charge of the Virgin-owned Babylon restaurant at popular celebrity haunt The Roof Gardens is a far cry from his humble Liverpool beginnings and comes after a fascinating career straddling both sides of the Atlantic. 

Pierre Koffmann to offer apprenticeship to Cordon Bleu Scholarship winner

15-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Pierre Koffmann is to offer the winner of this year's Le Cordon Bleu Scholarship a nine month apprenticeship at his restaurant Koffmann's at the Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge. 

Accor and Diageo named among World’s Best Multinational Workplaces

15-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Global hotel operator Accor and UK-based drinks firm Diageo have been named on the list of the 25 best multinational workplaces in the World by The Great Place to Work Institute.

Stonegate Pub Company opens restaurant, bar and nightclub in Solihull

15-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Stonegate Pub Company has opened bar and restaurant Missoula and nightclub Luna following the major refurbishment of a High Street building in the West Midlands town of Solihull.

Nando's named best UK restaurant chain at 2012 R200 Awards

15-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Nando's was named Best Overall Restaurant Chain at last night's R200 Awards where Geronimo Inns, Banana Tree and Byron were also rewarded for their work within the eating-out sector. 

Seafood Pub Company acquires third pub in two years

14-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Seafood Pub Company, the dining-led pub group set up by Jocelyn Neve and chef Antony Shirley last year, has acquired its third pub as it looks to expand its operation across the North West. 

Hospitality Guild reveals shortlist for first apprenticeship awards

14-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

The Hospitality Guild has unveiled a shortlist of nominees for its first ever apprenticeship awards, designed to honour apprentices, employers and training providers. 

Keg Watch: Romanian pair convicted of theft of beer kegs worth £76k

14-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

A Romanian pair were this week convicted of theft after police, working with trade association Keg Watch, seized 888 stolen beer kegs worth £76k.

Mickey Finn releases Whipped Chocolate Fruit and Nut liqueur

14-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Babco Europe, producer of the Mickey Finn apple infused Irish whiskey, has added a new flavour to the range - Whipped Chocolate, Fruit & Nut, in time for Christmas.

Restaurant and pub groups hit by later school half-term

14-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Britain’s leading restaurant and pub groups saw collective like-for-like sales down 1.7 per cent in October compared with the same month last year, caused in part by the later school half-term holidays, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Award-winning pub chef Justin Brown joins team at The Palmer Arms in Windsor

12-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Award-winning pub chef and former MasterChef: The Professionals contestant Justin Brown has revealed details of his latest project - heading up the kitchen at The Palmer Arms in Windsor as he helps position the venue as a gastropub ahead of possible group...

The Churchill Bar and Terrace to open at Hyatt Regency London

09-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill is set to open The Churchill Bar and Terrace later this month, paying homage to the former British Prime Minister and national hero.

BHA urges Government clarification on new licensing regulations

09-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has written to the Government claiming it has ignored industry concerns on incoming regulations - the Early Morning Restriction Orders (EMROs) and the Late Night Levy.

Pub food sales total £7.5bn in the past 12 months

08-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Sales of food in the nation's pubs grew by 4.5 per cent in the last year with the income from meals now totalling £7.5bn, dwarfing food sales in restaurants. 

The Lucky Onion group adds third food-led pub to portfolio ahead of further expansion

08-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Cotswolds-based hospitality group The Lucky Onion has this week opened The Chequers, a recently acquired food-led pub in Oxfordshire, ahead of further planned expansion for the company next year.

BrewDog sells 28% ABV beer Ghost Deer in 60ml bottles

08-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Scottish brewer BrewDog is now selling its 28% ABV beer Ghost Deer in 60ml bottles in a bid to 'kill beer stereotypes' and teach drinkers that beer can be more than a 'pint of fizzy, apathetic, yellow lager’.

Northcote Group to increase hotel size and grow Ribble Valley Inns following investment

07-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

The Northcote Group is to add up to eight more pubs to its Ribble Valley Inns estate and increase the size of its flagship hotel and restaurant Northcote following investment from ex-Blackburn Rovers director Richard Matthewman and his wife Lynda. 

VisitEngland reveals new marketing campaigns ahead of English Tourism Week 2013

07-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

National tourist board VisitEngland yesterday announced plans to launch eight new marketing campaigns next year in its bid to boost domestic tourism, also calling on the hospitality industry to get involved in English Tourism Week 2013.

Apprenticeships: Will 'urgent reform' help the hospitality industry?

07-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Leading industry bodies have welcomed a review into the Government’s apprenticeships programme, but have warned that proposed reforms could in fact stunt the growth of hospitality apprenticeships and will not necessarily lead to developing the skilled...

TripAdvisor reveals positives for hoteliers responding to reviews

07-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Hotel managers who respond personally to reviews posted on TripAdvisor guarantee more interest in their properties from those browsing the site compared to the hotels whose managers ignore comments, new research has shown.

Cupari Wines targets on-trade with UK launch of 19 Argentinian wines

07-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Cupari Wines, a new importer specialising in boutique wines from family-run wineries in Argentina, has launched in the UK and is targeting the on-trade market with its selection of 19 wines from five wineries, none of which were previously available in...

Chef Africa: Ashley Palmer-Watts' Kenyan mini-documentary video

07-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

It is just over a month since Ashley Palmer-Watts, the Dinner by Heston Blumenthal head chef, touched down in the UK after swapping his Knightsbridge kitchen for one in a mud hut in Kenya - take an exclusive look at his Chef Africa trip with BigHospitality's...

Darwin and Wallace makes London debut with The Ebury acquisition

06-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Newly formed bar and restaurant group Darwin & Wallace has acquired The Ebury near London’s Victoria from restaurateur Tom Etridge as it looks to expand to up to nine sites over the next five years.

Eco-burner introduces no fee, no lease option for its latest Chafo burner

06-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Eco-burner has introduced a special incentive for caterers looking to use an alternative to traditional gel and wick burners by launching a no fee, no lease loan option for its latest Chafo burner with no minimum fuel purchase.

BrewDog appoints first operations director to spearhead expansion

05-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Independent Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog has recruited its first operations director to help it focus more closely on the expansion of its bars.

Pop-up restaurant 'veteran' Carl Clarke to open Disco Bistro in the city

05-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Pop-up restaurant 'veteran' Carl Clarke is planning to bring some 'East End cool' to the city by taking up residency at The Rising Sun pub in St Paul's for the next six months. 

New Forest Ice Cream launches mulled wine sorbet

05-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

New Forest Ice Cream has launched a mulled wine sorbet for caterers looking to add a seasonal dish with colour to their autumn, winter and Christmas menus.

One step forward, two steps back for campaigners seeking planning law protection for pubs

02-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

A Parliamentary Bill which would have prevented the demolition or change of use of local pubs has been stalled, while the legality of new guidance from Cambridge City Council, also designed to protect pubs through planning laws, has been called into question.

Jesse Dunford Wood heads up Kensal Green gastropub relaunch

02-Nov-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The Regent in Kensal Green has been relaunched by chef Jesse Dunford Wood and the team at Perritt & Perritt as gastropub Parlour; the first of two venues under the same brand following the recent purchase of The Hope in Richmond. 

Michelin names Norfolk pub The Gunton Arms its Pub of the Year 2013

01-Nov-2012 By Emma Eversham

Michelin has named the Mark Hix-inspired Gunton Arms in Thorpe Market, Norfolk, its Pub of the Year with the release of its Eating Out in Pubs Guide 2013.